Improvement in thill-cotlplings



N. N. GORDON.

Thill Coupling.

No. 83,843. Patented Nov. 10, 1868.

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uitml Q's 0X .M. s iera time i Gait NORMAN N. GORDON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HlMSELF AND ROBERT BOYD, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 83,843, dated November 10, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN THILL-COUPLIN GS.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, NORMAN N. Gonnox, assiguor to myself and ROBERT BOYD, both of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thill and other Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement.

Figiu-e 2, a detailed view of the parts separated.

Figure 3, a section in line as at, fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in the construction of the jack with two inwardly-proj ectin g j ournals, with a space between, and the combination therewith of a thill-iron, having an entire eye, with ana-rrow neck, which enters the space between the journals, to couple the parts, the eye being held forward by a suitable packing, adjusted by screws in the rear, the whole as hereinafter set forth. 7

In the drawings, A indicates the jack applied to the axle, and B indicates the thill-iron.

The jack is provided with two jaws, It a, as usual,

and these jaws have inwardly-projectiug journals or bearings, b b, opposite each other, as shown, and leaving a space, 0, between.

The thill-iron is made from a strip of sheet metal, or wrought-iron, wrapped around the end of the thill, and bolted thereto, and formed with an entire or unbroken eye or loop, (Z. On the upper side, and at some distance forward of the bearing-portion of the eye, is made a narrow neck, f, of such a width as to just enter space 0, between journals I) b, when the thill is held in an upright position.

lVhen the eye (I is thus inserted between the jaws of the jack, it just fills the transverse space, and, being held forward in a suitable manner, bears upon the journals 7) I), and cannot become detached by accident. In order to retain the parts in this position, I insert, back of this eye, the usual block of India rubber, or equivalent, combined with a novel pressure-plate, h, of metal, which, having over-projecting lugs, i 1', slides securely within the jaws, and 'sets the rubber block up .the sand that is thrown up by the horses feet from collecting in the bearing, as it does .where the bolt extends clear across, as in other devices. In this joint the sand will fall from the centre opening 0, andprevent wear.

I am aware that an open hook has been formed on the end of the thill-iron, engaging with a bolt, 1), ex-

tending across from jaw to jaw. Such is not the equivalent of my invention, not only for the reason above named, but also for the reason that the eye in my case is entirely closed, thereby insuring more strength, and

,much greater security against accidental detachment of the bearing.

I am enabled to secure the advantages above described by the employment of the narrow neck f, in connection with the'open jom'nals' I) I), which I claim specially as new.

This same principle can be applied in connection with other couplings, for instance, in connecting traces with whitlle-trees, connecting harness with neck-yokes, connecting draught-ropes with canal-boats, &c.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the closed eye (I, provided with narrow neck f, with the jaws u a,,provide l with the separated bearings or journals 7) Z), the whole arranged as described, and operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

Also, in combination with the above, the sliding pressure-plate It, provided with lugs, i 2', which rest upon the jaws, the said plate serving to apply the rubber block to the bearing, through media of screws h It, as herein described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

N. N. GORDON.

Vitnesses:

FRED. A. HA'rcH, J. R. DRAKE. 

